Yakuza -

Professional gamblers who operated in clandestine dens.

The Shadow of the Rising Sun: Understanding the Yakuza For centuries, the have occupied a unique space in Japanese society—somewhere between mythic outlaws and corporate-style syndicates. Known formally by the Japanese police as bōryokudan ("violence groups"), these organizations are famous for their strict codes of honor, elaborate full-body tattoos, and ritualistic self-punishment. yakuza

The roots of the Yakuza stretch back to the 17th-century . They primarily descended from two marginalized groups: Professional gamblers who operated in clandestine dens